Can opener



June 10, 1941. G. J. MOELLER CAN OPENER Filed Nov. 6. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w r Z? 4 ,ilw r /I.

. INVENTOR GEORGE J. MOELLER BY M w (w,

' AI TO RNEY June 10, 1941. G. J. MOELLER 2244,8461

CAN OPENER Filed Nov. 6, 1939 2"Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY 6m ATTORNEY GEORGE J. MOELLER Patented 'June 10, 1941 CAN OPENER George J. Moeller, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Dazey Churn & Manufacturing 00., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 6, 1939, Serial. No. 303,000-

18 Claims. (Ci. 30-9) This invention relates to improvements in can openers of the type characterized generally by a feedingor traction wheel that serves to effect relative movement between a cutting element and thewall portion of a can to be severed' thereby.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient can opener of the so-called feeding wheel type which operates easily and smoothly and produces a clean, regular cut in the top wall, closely adjacent the side wall of the can; which severs the top wall in an im-' proved manner such that resulting edges of the severed metal are smooth and even, to the end of minimizing the hazard which these edge-s ordinarily present to the user, and which avoids the production of metal chips and slivers during the cutting operation.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of can opener of the character described which operates with equal facility and in an improved manner when used toopen cans of various shape and size.

These and other objects and advantages here-.

stood from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings illustrating a presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a top plan view of a can opener constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view; Fig.

3 is a front end view; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken at, line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig.

5 is a sectional elevational view taken at line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view taken at line 6-6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view showing'the cutting element and the can holding member in relation to a can, and Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view taken at line H of Fig. 6 and showing the operating position of the cutting element withrespect to a can.

I Referring now-by characters of reference to the drawings, the can opener includes a frame or base member which preferably consists of a substantially flat, elongated metal plate In having suitable means adjacent one end, indicated generally at H, for attaching. the same to a supporting structure II. when properly mounted the base plate'lll lies in a vertical plane and extends'horizontally from the supporting structure. The operating mechanism of the device is mounted on the base plate near its outer end and'includes a feeding wheel l3 consisting of a peripherally toothed disc, secured as by threads to the diametrally reduced portion 14 of a shaft l5 for rotation with the said shaft. As best appears from Fig. 6, shaft I5 is journalled in a longitudinal, off-center bore formed in a cylindrical block or bearing member l6 which is disposed for rotation, in spaced, aligned bearing apertures i1 and I8 formed respectively in the to be turned through an angle of 180 degrees to effect a shifting of the eccentrically mounted feeding wheel l3 to and from its operating position as for purposes hereinafter explained. The inner end of arm 23 is formed to provide'a hollow, laterally projecting hub 24 which fits over the bearing bracket 20 and engages the end 22 of the bearing member 16. A lateral bend in arm 23, indicated at 25 (Fig. 1) disposes the outer or manipulating end. of the arm in the plane of the base plate whose upper edge provides an abutment for limiting the extent of arm movement in one direction and coacts with said arm to define the operating position of the feeding wheel. A knob 25 secured toithe outer extremity of the arm 23 facilitates the manipulation thereof. Feeding wheel I3 is adapted to be rotated by a' crank 21, secured to a reduced end portion 28 of shaft l5, said crank termi-' nating at its outer end in a suitable handle 29.

Again referrin'g'to Fig; 6, it will be noted that the forward endof the bearing member l6 extends through bearing aperture l1 and into a cavity orrecess 30 formed in the front side of the base plate.

1 by a screw 33. It will appear that the cylindrical bearing block l6 and all of the parts carried thereby, most importantly the feeding'wheel l 3, are adapted for a limited degree of movement as a unit in the axial direction, the extent of forward movement of the said assembly beinglimited by the abutment of the arm hub portion 24 with the end wall l9 of bearing arm 20, and backward or inward movement'of the assembly being opposed by the resilient washerjl. The feeding wheel is urged forwardly by thrust washer 3| against the side of a can to effect a clamping of the can between the feeding wheel and the inner face of a, cutting element, hereinafter described, yet the feeding wheel is permitted to yield inwardly to allow a thickened'or irregular portion of the can wall to pass between it and the cutting element.

The cutting element,'designated 34, is shown in its preferred form as being of rotatable disc type, the circular cutting edge 95 thereof being produced by the convergence of the flat outer side surface 36 and the coni a1 inner side surface 3'1. The cutter 34 is mo nted for rotation on a stub shaft 38 with its a is inclined to the horizontal and lying vertically above the axis of bearing member l6. Stub shaft 39 has a threaded end portion by which it is secured to a boss 39 formed on or rigidly attached as by welding to the base plate It).

From the description .thus far it will be understood that thefeeding wheel, by reason of its eccentric mounting on the cylindrical bearing block, is adapted to be shifted toward and from the cutting disc incident to turning movement of the said bearing block. Thus, by swinging the lever arm. 23 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) through an angle of 180 degrees, the feeding wheel is shifted downwardly so that its upper edge becomes spaced below the lower edge of the cutting disc and when so positioned, the feeding wheel is adapted to have a can, A applied thereto with the undersurface of the rim or flange B resting..upon the toothed peripherylof the feeding wheel. Lever' arm 29 may then be swung to restore it to normal position as shown in Fig. 2, effecting upward movement of the feeding wheel and can: and causing the top wall of the can to be punctured by the cutting disc. Thereafter, rotation of the feeding wheel as-by crank 21 causes the can to move so that its top wall issheared by the cutting disc which acts thereon close to the inner surface of the can rim.

By mounting the cutting wheel in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 6, the action thereof is somewhat improved, particularly when operat- "ing on cylindrical cans of small -diameter or on rectangular cans having corner portions of small radius. However, practically all former can terminates in a finger tin surface coating, the flakes unavoidably entering the can and mixing with the contents there- This undesirable operating characteristic is eliminated in my improved can opener by the provision of means for holding and guiding the can with respect to the feeding and cutting rollers in a novel and improved manner. In the present example such means include an elongated sheet metal arm 40 extending horizontally and disposed fiatwise upon base plate l9 above the feeding wheel. The arm 49 is pivotaliy connected at its inner end to base plate l0 by a pivot pin 4|. The outer or forward end of the arm 42 which is laterally offset from the plane of the arm and disposed in the plane of the base plate in an end recess formed therein. Mounted within said recess are means for exerting a downwardly directed force on the finger 42, such means comprising a spring 43 housed within a cylinder 44 secured to the base plate, the spring acting on a plunger 45. which is connected to finger 42. The extent of downward movement, of arm 49 is limited by the abutment of finger 42 with the base plate at the lower margin 46 of the said end recess. Arm 40 is provided with an opening 41 for the accommodation of the cutting disc shaft, and such opening is sufliciently large so that the cutting disc and its mounting will not interfere with the movement of the arm 40.

Formed on thearm 40 adjacent its lower edge are laterally projecting shoulders 49 and 49 which are spaced on relatively opposite sides of the cutting and feeding wheel assembly. Shoulder 48 is located behind the cutting zone, and

is formed to provide a horizontal bearing surface 50 for engagement with the top of the can so that the force exerted thereby acts in a vertical downwardly direction on the can. Shoulder 49 is spaced forwardly or anteriorly of the cutting zone and is formed to provide an inclined bearing surface 5| for engagement with the can rim. By reason of its inclined bearing surface shoulder 49 produces a wedging action on the can and tends to force the same downwardly and outwardly away from the base plate, hence it may be said that shoulder 49 exerts alaterally directed force on the can at a point spaced forwardly of the point of cutting. The effect of shoulder 49 is to hold the can in a relatively biased or canted position with respect to the openers of the general type hereinabove described have an undesirable operating characteristic, viz., the tendency of the cutting disc to track away from the rim of the can or, otherwise expressed, to follow a spiral path of gradually decreasing radius. It will be understood that the sidewall of the can isordlnarily so clamped between the cutting disc and feeding wheel that lateral movement of the can which allows the cutter to track away from the rim can occur only to a limited extent. or until reaction pressure rams the rim back against the cutting edge. Accordingly, in previous can openers of the type herein concerned the cutter does not pursue a direct, regular course through the metal but to the contrary produces a sinuous cut, manifest by the undulated or somewhat wrinkled margin on the severed can top. Such irregular c utter and feeding wheels, or in such position that a tangent line (designated D, Fig. 8) produced on the can top from the point of cutting is at a distinct angle to the plane of the cutter.

It will thus appear that shoulder 49, acting laterally on the can as indicated by arrow C (Fig. 8) in opposition to and spaced forwardly of the cutter, produces a turning moment of force on l the can whereby the can rim is maintained in lateral pressure engagement with the cutting disc at the point of cutting, and at a horizontal angle to the cutter. Such moment of force acts to oppose lateral rocking movement of the cap, which in former can openers is in large part responsible for the off-tracking effect above discussed.

Another important advantage accruing from the foregoing provision is that, as compared to former practice, a smaller cutting wheel mounted at a greater angle to the vertical may be employed, changes which facilitate the operation of the cutter;"particularly yvhen negotiating curves of small radius such as are presented by cylindr cal cans of. small diameter and by the corner closure herein, it will be understood that the same may be modified in certain respects without departing from the spirit and full intendment of the invention which is defined by the appended claims, I claim: i. In a can opener, the combination with coacting feeding and cutting rollers, of a yieldable pressure device arranged to act downwardly on a can to hold the same in pressure engagement with said feeding roller, said device including spaced bearing shoulders engageable with the can rim at points located forwardly and rearwardly of the points of action of sa d roller, the forward bearing shoulder being laterally bevelled to exert an obliquely directed force on the can whereby acting with said shoulder to produce downward andlate'rally inward components of force on the can.

5 In combination with a can opener including a support, feeding and cutting rollers carried by the support, means for adjusting the feeding roller toward and away from the cutting roller, a spring-pressed can-positioning arm movably mounted on said support, said arm having a pair of spaced shoulders formed thereon, one of said shoulders being situated behind the cutting zone and having a horizontal bearing surface engageable with thetop edge of a can, the other of said'shoulders being situated ahead of the cutting zone and having a laterally inclined bearing surface engageable with the top edge of the can, said second shoulder being adapted to produce'an inwardly directed force on the can.

to hold the rim thereof in pressure engagement with the forward portion of the cutting roller and spaced from the rear portion of the cutting roller.

2. In a can opener, the combination with a,

' wheel, said cutter being arranged to act upon the top end wall of the can, adjacent to the' inner side of the sealing flange, and yieldable springurged pressure means mounted on the base,

adapted to exert a lateral force on the can only,..

at a point spaced ahead of the point of cutting, said means coacting with cutter and feeding wheel to hold the can in a biased position with respect to said cutter, such that theinner surface of the sealing flange is held in pressure engagement with the forward edge of the cutter and spaced from the rearward edge of the cutter.

3. In a can opener, a base, a feeding wheel mounted thereon and arranged for peripheral engagement with the undersurface of the sealing flange of a can, in propelling relation thereto, a revolvable cutter disc mounted on the base above said feeding wheel and arranged to act upon the top end wall of the can, adjacent to the inner side of the sealing flange, and means constraining the canto a biased position with respect to the cutter disc, said means including a vertically yieldable, spring-pressed shoulder member having a laterally bevelled can-engaging surface arranged to exert an inwardly directed force on the side of the can at a point spaced ahead of the cutting zone.

. 4. A can opener including a cutting element arranged to act on the end wall of a can adjacent to the inner side of the top sealing flange, a feeding wheel for propelling the can in relation to said cutting element, said feeding wheel having a toothed periphery engageable with the under surface of the said sealing flange, and means for holding the can in a biased position with, respect to said cutter, said means including a" laterally inclined, movably mounted shoulder engageable with the said sealing flange at a point spaced forwardly of the cutting zone, and a spring co- 6. A can opener including a\support, a feeding wheel having a toothed periphery, said feeding wheel being mounted with its end face opposed to the vertical wall of the can and with its toothed periphery disposed 'tmengage underthe sealing flange from the outside of the can, means for turning the feeding wheel to propel the can, a cutting disc rotatably mounted in an inclined position on said support, above said feeding wheel, said cutting disc being arranged toact upon the top wall of the can, adjacent to the inner surface ofthe sealing flange, and a vertically yieldable, spring-pressed member engageable with the can flange at a point spaced ahead of the point of cutting, said member having a laterally inclined. bearing surface arranged to exert an inwardly and downwardly directed force on the can.

7. A can opener including a support, a cutting disc mounted for rotation on said support to act upon the upper end wall of a can adjacent to the inner surface of the sealing flange, a feeding wheel for propelling the can in relation to said cutter, said feeding wheellhaving a toothed periphery adapted to engage under the saidv sealing flange from the outside of the can, a yieldable pressure shoe acting vertically-downwardly on said can behind the cutting zone and a second yieldable pressure shoe acting laterally inwardly on the can at a point spaced ahead of the cutting zone, said second pressure shoe acting to hold.

the innerside wall surface of the canin pressure engagement with the forward portion of the cutterand spaced from the rearward portion of the cutter.

8. In a can opener of the character described, a base plate having coacting feeding and cutting .wheels rotatively mounted thereon, a yieldable pressure arm mounted on said plate for movewheels rotatively mounted thereon and arranged to have the rim of a can disposed therebetween, an arm pivoted to the base plate, shoulders formed on said arm adapted to engage the rim of the can 'at points spaced respectively before and behind the cutting wheel, spring means coacting with said arm to urge said shoulders into pressure engagement with the can rim, the anterior shoulder having a laterally inclined bearing surface to the can rim whereby to produce a downwardly and inwardly directed force there- 10. In a can opener of the character described, a base plate, a cutting wheel mounted thereon, a feeding wheel carried by the base plate sub jacent the cutting wheel, means for raising and lowering said feeding wheel with respect to said cutting wheel, said wheels being relatively laterally off-set and adapted to receive the rim of a can therebetween, and a vertically yieldable pressure shoulder having a laterally inclined bearing surface engageable with the can rim at a point spaced anteriorly of the cutting wheel, said bearing surface facing downwardly and inwardly with respect to the can rim.

11. In a can opener, the combination of a base plate, a cutting disc rotat ably mounted on said base plate in lateral spaced relation thereto,,a feeding wheel disposed for rotation in a plane between the cutting disc and base plate, means mounting said feeding wheel for axial movement toward and from said cutting disc, resilient means acting to urge said feeding wheel toward the inner side surface of the cutting disc, and a yieldable pressure arm mounted on the base plate for engagement with the upper edge of a can held between said feeding wheel and cutting disc, said pressure arm being formed to provide an inclined bearing surface engageable with the can rim at a point spaced forwardly of cutting disc for exerting a downwardly and inwardly directed force on the can.

12. In a can opener of the character described, a support, a cutting disc mounted on said support for rotation in a plane inclined to the vertical, a feedingv wheel disposed for rotation in a vertical plane, between the lower, innermost edge of the cutting disc and the support, said feeding wheel being adapted to engage under the exterior edgeof the flange of a can, means on said support mounting said feeding wheel for bodily movement in a generally vertical direction and also for lateral movement, toward and from the cutting disc, resilient means acting on said feeding wheel to urge the same laterally toward the cutting disc, an arm member extending substantially horizontally above said feeding wheel, pivotally connected at one end to the support, a spring acting downwardly on the opposite end of said arm, shoulders on said am arranged to engage the upper edge of the canflange and urge the same downwardly against said feeding wheel, one of said shoulders having a horizontal surfacefor engagement with the flange at a point spaced behind the point of cutting and another of said shoulders having a laterally inclined bearing surface for engagement with the flange at a point spaced ahead of the point of cutting, the latter said shoulder being adapted to produce an inwardly directed force or: the can.

13. In a can opener, the combination with feeding and cutting rollers adapted to act at the rim of a can, of a shoulder member positioned to bear upon the rim of the can at a point spaced from the zone of action of said rollers, said shoulder having an inclined bearing surface adapted to exert an obliquely directed force on the rim of the can to hold the same in biased relation to the cutting roller.

14. In a can opener the combination with feeding and cutting rollers adapted to act at the rim of a can, of a shoulder member positioned to bear upon the rim of the can forwardly of zone of action of said rollers on the can, said shoulder having an oblique bearing surface that presses downwardly and inwardly on the rim of the can to hold the same in biased relation to the cutting roller.

15. In a can opener, the combination with feeding and cutting rollers adapted to act at the rim of a can, of shoulders positioned to bear upon the rim of the can forwardly and rearwardly of the cutting zone, said rear shoulder having a horizontal bearing surface, and said forward shoulder having an inclined bearing surface adapted to produce a downwardly and inwardly directed force on the can.

16. A can opener comprising a frame, feeding and cutting rollers on said frame, adapted to act at the rim of acan, one of said rollers being 'mounted for bodily movement toward and from the other roller, a member having an inclined surface positioned to bear upon the rim of the can at a point forwardly of the cutting zone, said member adapted to produce a downwardly and inwardly directed force on the can to hold the same in biased relation to the cutting roller, said clined position with its upper part nearest the .axis of the can, a member for positioning the can with respect to the cutting roller, said memher being arrangedto bear upon the rim of the can forwardly of the cutting zone, and having an inclined bearing surface for pressing downwardly and inwardly on the rim of the can to dispose the same in biased relation to the cutting roller.

18. A can opener comprising a frame, a cutting roller arranged thereon to sever the end wall of a can adjacent the rim, said cutting roller bea ing mounted in an inclined position with its upper part nearest the axis of the can, a feeding roller for moving the can relative to said cutting roller, means for positioning the can with respect to said cutting roller, said means comprising movable shoulders adapted to bear upon the rim of the can forwardly and rearwardly of the cutting zone, said rear shoulder presenting a substantially horizontal bearing surface to the can rim and said forward shoulder presenting an inclined bearing surface to the can rim, whereby to produce a downwardly and inwardly directed force on the can.

GEORGE J. MOELLER, 

